Pagtambayayong told to liquidate P1M aid

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has ordered a non-government organization to liquidate the P1 million financial assistance it obtained from a former senator‘s pork barrel in 2010 for its water system project in Barangay Kalunasan.

COA issued a notice of suspension last month against Pagtambayayong Foundation for Mutual Aid Inc., an accredited NGO of Cebu City.

City accountant Mark Rossel Salomon explained that the notice of suspension from COA serve as a demand for the NGO to submit the liquidation documents within 90 days upon receipt of the order.

The NGO was the implementing agency of the P1 million project for the upgrading of the water sources in Mountain View Village in Barangay Kalunasan.

“Please settle the audit suspension through compliance with the requirements which we will evaluate,” the notice read. 

Pagtambayayong- A Foundation for Mutual Aid, Inc. is a non-governmental organization that promotes low-income hou-sing. Its center for appropriate technology conducts research, production, and training on appropriate building technologies. It is also a member of the Sustainable Building Technologies-Philippines, the network of SBT practitioners.

Salomon said the NGO failed to submit at least 14 liquidation requirements.

“Ang notice of suspension nag-notify lang ang COA nga gi-suspend ang post-audit sa ilang papers tungod sa non-completion of documents,” he said.

Salomon, a lawyer, said that should the Pagtambayayong Foundation failed to submit the liquidation documents within the period given, the disbursement of the amount shall be considered disallowed pursuant to Section 82 of Presidential Decree No. 1445 or the State Audit Code of the Philippines. If this happens, the foundation will be asked to reimburse the amount.

 The persons who signed the approval of the project will also be held liable including former mayor Tomas Osmeña, former city treasurer Ofelia Oliva and six other city hall employees.

 “If dili ka-comply, ang persons liable automatic pabayron nato sila unless i-contest nila,” he said.

The NGO, on the other hand, would be removed from city’s list of accredited organizations and would not anymore receive funding from the city government.

City auditor Cymbeline Celia Uy said the NGO has to explain and justify why the project started on July 2010, when in fact, it only obtained a signed MOA on Oct. 8 of the same year.

COA has required the NGO to submit the project’s program of work and detailed estimate and the employment contracts and documents how the administrative personnel assigned to monitor the project were hired, including their duties and functions and the determination of their salaries and transportation allowances.

The commission also wants a notarized contract for drilling services with Abesamis Construction and Drilling Corp. and Eco-Builders Multi- Purpose Coop. for installation of pump house and electricity in the amount of P695,886 and P100,000, respectively.

Based on the notice furnished to the Office of the Mayor through the City Accounting Office, COA said the amount was suspended in audit due to non-submission of documents stipulated under its memorandum circular dated Oct. 25, 2007.

The organization was compelled to submit the following documents: Securities and Exchange Commission and/or the Cooperative Development Authority certificate of registration; authenticated copy of the latest Articles of Incorporation/Cooperation attached with Certificate of Filing with SEC and Certificate of Approval by the CDA; disclosure of other related business and extent of ownership; Work Financial Plan approved by the  mayor and Sources of Details of Proponents Equity Participation in the project. — (FREEMAN)